Allison Welch MacPhail
1935-2021
Allison Welch MacPhail passed away peacefully at the Saint
John Regional Hospital on Saturday, July 17, 2021. He was
born in Woodstock, New Brunswick on July 8, 1935 to the late Lawrence
and Clara (nee Welch) and grew up in Florenceville, NB, where he
graduated from the East Florenceville High School in 1953.
Following graduation from high school, Allison attended the University
of New Brunswick in Fredericton where he met his wife, Virginia
Hossack. In 1961 Al graduated from the Civil Engineering faculty and
married Virginia on December 30, 1961.
Al’s university years were extended as he spent
alternating years away from school working in Iqaluit (formerly
« Frobisher Bay ») where he fell in love with « Big
Projects ». During his forty year career as a civil
engineer he moved around the world working across Canada, USA, and
Morocco. He was particularly proud of his last « Big
Project » which was the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial
Bridge in Boston which has become an icon for Boston featured in the
backdrop of news channels, but better known at home in Rothesay as
« Grampy’s Bridge ».
Al was an avid salmon fisherman and for many years loved fly
fishing at Burpee Bar in the St. John River, as well as whatever Crown
Reserve water he could get. After his retirement in 2002 he
became an enthusiastic golfer, often the first one on the course in
the morning where he would play two balls around eighteen holes and be
home before 10:00 a.m. He also enjoyed many years of
downhill skiing starting at Crabbe Mountain in the 1960’s
and 1970’s and took his family on many March Break ski
holidays to Maine. As he moved from job to job, Al always looked for
the nearest ski hill and took advantage of the opportunity to ski in
the Rockies while working in Alberta during the 1980’s and
at Lake Tahoe while working in California during the
1990’s.
Allison will be deeply missed by his family; sons, Peter
(Mary) and Scott (Simone); his grandchildren, Skene, Madeleine, Reid,
Robyn, Joey, and Alexandra; his great-grandchildren, Prescott and
Paxton; his sister, Marnie Peterson (Paul); as well as many nieces and
nephews.
In addition to his parents, Allison was predeceased by his
wife of fifty-one years, Virginia, as well as his daughter, Elizabeth,
and his son, Andrew.
A public visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021
at McAdam’s Funeral Home from 6 – 8 pm. A Memorial
Service will take place at St. Paul’s United Church on
Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 2 pm with Rev. Michelle Armstrong
officiating. Due to the current health protocols, please contact
McAdam’s Funeral Home at (506)458-9170 or by email at
mcadams@mcadamsfh.com to register your attendance at the
service.
For those who wish, memorial donations to the Heart and
Stroke Foundation, Diabetes Association or a charity of the
donor’s choice would be greatly appreciated.
www.mcadamsfh.com
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19352021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Allison Welch MacPhail 19352021..
Décès pour la Ville: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick